Big Bear Creative – utilising the apprenticeship levy for the first time

Big Bear Creative 

Utilising the apprenticeship levy for the first time

Growth Works with Skills helped Big Bear Creative find a levy match to fund their digital marketer’s degree apprenticeship

 

Emma Sheppard 

Design & Branding Director

 

“Originally recommended by our training provider, ARU, we had a video call with Ade Gardner to explain how Growth Works with Skills could help and what support was available to us. I knew we’d be in good hands with him and the Growth Works team.”

Emma Sheppard, Design & Branding Director

 

Big Bear Creative are a creative marketing agency based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Specialising in digital marketing, the agency works with companies to deliver high quality brand and digital solutions for campaigns, one off projects and ongoing support to existing internal marketing teams.

Here are a couple of questions we asked Emma

What challenge did Big Bear Creative face?

The digital marketing is a changing landscape so Big Bear Creative are always looking at training and development opportunities available to stay ahead, whilst supporting the team’s development. The agency started to consider a degree apprenticeship for digital marketer, Izzy who had been with the agency for 9 months.  Described as a quick learner with a can-do attitude, Izzy was keen to improve her knowledge and gain a qualification in digital marketing to expand her current job role and progress in her career.

How did Growth Works with Skills provide support?

Training provider ARU recommended Big Bear Creative to contact Growth Works with Skills. Ade Gardner, Skills & Business Engagement Manager met with Emma to take her through the apprenticeship process, particularly explaining how the funding can be provided through a match with a larger levy contributor – in this case Cambridge City Council. For both organisations it was the first degree apprenticeship to be funded with a levy transfer, an exciting milestone all round.

Left: Izzy Yovanova degree apprentice for digital marketer  Right: Emma Sheppard

The apprenticeship has allowed Big Bear Creative to retain local talent and a valued member of the team, helping to progress her career and adding valuable skills to the team. This will make a big difference to the business in the long term, without the levy they otherwise wouldn’t have been likely to fund.

Visit the Big Bear Creative website here.